December 15th, 2009

Are you ready to go on a trip that will forever change your life?  Are you ready to see the poorest of the poor and some of the most humble people you will ever meet?  Yes?  Well, I thought I was too but I got way more than what I bargained for.  I never expected them to give so much when they have so little or be so sweet and loving.  I never expected these precious people to crawl inside my heart and make me love them as much as I do.  This is what happened on a trip to the Northeast section of Brazil.  Come along with me and lets see what we can find.

First, of course, there is the long flight to get there and the drive to the hotel where you will be staying.  Then it is off to find a little church in the middle of  huge fields of sugar cane and animals.  Such poor and hardworking people and they love God with all of their heart.  Some of these people have walked miles to get here and will walk miles to get back home.  The service is beautiful!  There are many visitors and the Presence of the Lord is moving and I can do nothing but cry.  It makes me think.  Am I as dedicated as these people who have to walk miles to get here?   What would I do if I was in their place?

The next night we are off to find another little church.  A sweet little church where the ladies show their love for Sis. Nara by wearing matching blouses they bought from the ladies department.  The worship and singing here is beautiful and again I am crying.  Pastor Rienaldo is the shepherd of this flock and a more humble man you will never meet.  This man is battling a severe illness and it is wonderful to see the church rise up and pray for their pastor.  It is obvious they have much love for the Pastor and his family. 

Now we are headed to two more services and these ones are just as powerful as the ones before.  Some more of the most sweet and humble people you will ever meet and of course more crying for me.  The first service is small and mostly children and Sis. Nara does a wonderful job of speaking to them.  It was wonderful to see a church full of children all wanting to hear something about Jesus.  The second service was in a church that needs a pastor.  The man who takes care of this church already has a church of his own and has to travel quite a ways to get here but it is obvious that Pastor Igo has a burden in his heart to see these people saved.  Although exhausted from traveling Pastor Igo leads the church in worship and the power of God is felt by all.  What a wonderful serice.

I hope you are getting the picture here.  These people are poor but love God with all of their heart.  If you need just a little more though I can tell you about the next few services.  The next two services are held outdoors in a tent.  The first service is for the ladies and wow what a service that was.  We sang and prayed and lifted up the Name of Jesus and prayed together for each other.  The next service was just as powerful with Sis. Nara testifying about the power of a unified church and how the devil can do us no harm if we stick together and serve the Lord with all of our heart. 

Are you tired yet?  I am but there are still two more services to go and have I mentioned that this is only our fifth day here?  The first service we go to we are trying to help and encourage the pastor and his wife and the church there.  They have recently had a hard time and need a little boost for their faith.  These people are wonderful and serve God with all of their heart and there is no doubt that they will make it.  We drive a few hours more and now here we are at our second service.  It is very hot but the Presence of the Lord we feel makes it bearable.  We sing and testify and the pastor exhorts so ably to his church.  Beautiful.  Absolutely beautiful.  I am exhausted but it has been worth it to see these great people.